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ANGUS or FORFARSHIRE - VOLUME 4, by A. J. WARDEN, F.S.A.

PAGES 413 - 429

ANGUS IN PARISHES - MONIKIE

CHAPTER - XLVI - MONIKIE

The Church of Monecky (Monikie) was in the diocese of Brechin. It was rated
in the Old Taxation at forty pounds. It is
called in old documents Moniekyn, Munikkin, Monieky, etc. It was gifted to the
Abbey of Arbroath by King William the Lion, 1189 - 1199, and confirmed by him,
1211-1214, and by Pope Honorii, 1219. In 1574 Arbirlett, Pambryde, and Monekie
were served by Charles Michelson, minister, who had a stipend of £100, and kirk
lands. Henrie Grief was reidare at Monikie, with a salary of £14. We do not know to what saint it was dedicated, and there is no
fountain near the Church with the name of any saint to indicate the patron.

The parish is nearly triangular in shape, about seven miles in length from
north-west to south-east, and five miles in breadth. It is bounded by Guthrie
and Carmyllie on the north, by Panbride on the east, on the south by Barry and
Monifieth, and on the west by Murroes and Inverarity. It contains 9027.112
acres, of which 106.002 are water. The parish is divided into zones by ranges of
hills which cross it from east to west. To the south of the ridge called Downie
Hill the land slopes towards the estuary of the Tay, is composed of rich soil
with a gravelly subsoil, and is very productive; and having a sunny exposure,
the crops come early to maturity, and are of fine quality. The farmers are
masters of their business, and take the most possible out of their land. On the
north of the ridge the soil is less productive, the climate moist and cold, and
the crops are lighter and later, and more precarious. To the north of this
district the ground rises still higher, and much of it is muirish and only fit
for pasturage. The drainage from this district is collected into drains, and
conveyed to the Craigton reservoirs belonging to the Dundee Water Commissioners,
whence most of it is taken to Dundee. This northern section of the parish is
bleak and cold, and it contains little that is attractive to a stranger.

The lands of Monzeky (Monikie) were for a long time in possession of the
Lindsays. Alexander Lindsay of Monikie is mentioned in 1516, Mr. John Lindsay of
Monikie in 1528, and David Lindsay of Monikie in 1562. There had also been a David Lindsay of Monikie in 1587.
In most
of the larger divisions of the barony of Downie there had been a tower or
fortalice, generally called a castle. There was one at Monikie on the rising
ground about 250 yards to the north of the Parish Church, a considerable part of
which was standing in the beginning of this century. The only remains of it now
known are two triangular stones built, the one above the other, into the front
of a cottage adjoining the farm steading of Kirkton. On the upper of these are
the letters DL : BE, and the date 1578, with some portions of the family arms,
etc. Some sculptures are on the other stone, but the weather and moss have made
them so indistinct that we cannot say what they are. A few years ago there were
a number of large, old, hardwood trees standing near the site of the old castle,
but they have disappeared.

(Both photographs alongside can be enlarged to
see more detail by copying to another application. Alternatively a
larger photo can be seen by clicking on these.)

(CLICK HERE for
a photograph of Easter Elchies House, near Aberlour. This MIGHT
show a similar building to that described here (area of Guildy) and of the
pediments above the attic windows which can be clearly seen.)

The lands of Monikie and many other lands in the parish held off the Priory
of Resteneth. The following are the lands so held, and the sums paid annually
for each, as given in the Aldbar Miscellany;- Lands of barony of Downy, 10
merks; lands of Carlungy, 5 merks; lands of Cambustone, 10s; lands of Downiekane,
15s; lands of Balhungy, 10s; lands of Ardesty, 10s; lands of Moniky, 5s 4d;
lands of Pitairey, 6s 8d; lands of Guildry, 12d; lands of Stotfald, 2s; lands of
Dunfynd, 10s; lands of Newbigging, 4s; Mill of Downy, 2s.

Some of the lands in Monikie were acquired by the Fletchers of Inverpeffer early in the 17th century, if not sooner.
On 21st May, 1658, Sir Robert
Fletcher of Inverpeffer, son of Sir Andrew Fletcher of Inverpeffer, knight, Senator of the College of Justice, was retoured (No. 312) in the barony of
Inverpeffer, comprehending, among other lands, those of the lands and town of
Stotfaulds, Fallaws, Leadside, and Kirkhill, with pasture in the moor of Monikie, called Northmure, in the parish of Monikie - A.E. 13s 4d, N.E. 4m.

The Parish Church of Monikie was erected in 1812 partly on the site of its
predecessor. It is a comparatively plain quadrangular edifice, with large
pointed windows fronting the south, and smaller ones on the north side. Some
improvements were made recently on the interior of the Church, and it is now
very comfortable. A small belfry is perched on the west gable. On the bell is a
Latin inscription, of which the following is a transcription -

ALBERTVS . CELY . FECIT . ABERDONIAE . 1718

We think it very probable that the previous Church of Monikie had been
erected in or about that year, and that the bell had been got for the new
Church. Most of the old bells in the churches in the country were cast on the
Continent of Europe, but Monikie bell is of Scottish manufacture, and the tone
is pleasing. An enclosed graveyard surrounds the Church, in which are many
monuments, some of them old and moss-covered, dating from the beginning of the
18th century, but no attempt has been made to level the ground or arrange the
stones. A good manse and garden adjoin the Church on the east, and the Monikie
Burn flows past church and manse at a little distance to the south. The
situation is pleasant, and some well-grown trees shelter the manse, etc. from
windy blasts. The glebe is in the vicinity of the manse.

Adjoining the east side of the Craigton reservoir is a very handsome Free
Church, with a pretty spire, a comfortable manse, and a large walled garden,
which were erected some time after the Disruption. The late Fox Maule, Earl of
Dalhousie, on whose property they stand, contributed very liberally towards the
cost of the buildings. The shrubs and trees planted around the erections are now
of some size, and beautify and shelter the premises.

There is a Board School
(only one photographed)
and a Free Church School in the parish, so that the
educational interests of the inhabitants are well cared for.

The first known proprietor of Auchinleck (Gaelic = the field of broad or flag
stones), now usually called Affleck, was Mathew le Napier de Aghelek, designed
of the shire of Angus, who did fealty and took the oaths of allegiance to King
Edward I at Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1296. Of this baron or his family nothing is
known beyond this act of homage.

Shortly after this date a son of Le Napier, or some other person who may have
acquired the barony, assumed it as a surname, as on 15th March, 1306, John de
Aghelek did homage to the same King for his lands in the county of Forfar.
These
lands are in this parish, and the barony was then of considerably greater extent
than it now is. The family continued to hold the lands for upwards of three
centuries, but they took little share in national affairs and none of their acts
occupy much space in the annals of the kingdom; but Auchinleck of that ilk
appears as a witness to several local charters. James of Auchinleck is mentioned
on 18th May, 1445.

The Lindsays, Earls of Crawford, were superiors of the barony, and, in 1459
the Earl, by the avisement of Lindsay of the Halch, hereditary
Constable of the Castle of Finhaven, renewed the marches and bounds of
Auchinleck. The chief of the family was hereditary armour-bearer to the Earls of
Crawford, and one of his councillors. About thirty years before the renewal of
the marches, Sir John Auchenleck, knight, the then baron, married a daughter of
Sir John Boswell of Balmuto, in Fife. After Sir John's death Lady Auchenleck
married Durham of Grange of Monifieth. Sir John's predecessor appears to have
been Sir Alexander Auchenleck of that ilk, he having acquired the property of
Barras, in the Mearns, from the co-heiresses of Melville of Glenbervie about the
beginning of the fifteenth century.

The Auchenlecks were a well known family in Dundee, several members of it
having been burgesses, and some of them magistrates. James Auchinleck was
Provost in 1593, and William Auchinleck, after having been repeatedly Dean of
Guild, was Provost of Dundee in 1619. On 28th July, 1610, Gilbert of Auchinleck
succeeded his father Robert.

On some of the tombstones in the Howff (Dundee) their armorial bearings and
quaint mottoes and inscriptions may still be seen. One upon Archibald Auchinleck
and his wife, dated 1647, is very curious. The fine old castle of Affleck
was
built by some of the members of this family. It stands on an elevated situation
a short distance to the west of the Reservoirs belonging to the Dundee Water
Commissioners. It commands a most extensive view, including part of the Tay, the
eastern part of Fife, the Isle of May, the German Ocean, and portions of Angus.
The castle consists of a lofty, massy, square tower, having considerable
resemblance to the "Border Peel" common in the south of Scotland.
It
is of four storeys in height, surmounted by a flag tower and capehouse. The
walls, which are of great thickness and solidity, are built of squared ashlar
stones, which are still sound and perfect as when built, no appearance of decay
being visible. The roof is covered with flagstones and the battlements are
entire and may he traversed in safety. The lower storeys are arched with stone,
the roofs being circular, and a stone staircase leads from the ground to the
parapet, having openings to each floor. The upper floors are of oak, and strong
massy beams and joists of oak support the roof.

The chief apartment is on the third floor, and it occupies the entire area
within the walls of the castle. It bears evidence of having been ornate, and the
fireplace, which had been spacious, still shows traces of carvings and mouldings.
Entering off this room are two small bedclosets and a small oratory, each of
which is in the walls, which show them to be of great thickness. (Andrew) Jervise says-
"In the oratory, which measures seven feet six inches by six feet two
inches, a benatura, a piscina, and an ambry still remain, along with some
architectural ornaments, among which is a shield with three lozenges."
Massy doors of oak and an iron yett or gate defended the entrance
and near the door are small holes in the wall, bevelling outwards, for shooting
arrows and other missiles from within. The windows are small, and protected by
iron bars. A few years ago the iron yett was removed.

A similar iron gate or yett is still to be seen at the Castle of Invermark,
in Glenesk, and at Inverquharity, on the banks of the South Esk near Kirriemuir.
In feudal times a special license from the Sovereign was necessary before an
iron yett could be erected on a castle, and the deed authorising the Lord of
Inverquharity to erect one is still extant among the archives of the Ogilvies.
It was granted by James II in 1445. The yetts at Inverquarity, at Invermark, at
Auchinleck, and at Braikie were of similar construction, and we may therefore
infer that this castle had been erected and the iron gate put on about the same
period, and that the renewal of the marches took place shortly thereafter.
If
this inference is correct, Affleck Castle must be nearly four centuries and a
half old. Though thus hoary with age, it is still in better preservation than
any other of the non-inhabited old baronial castles in Angus. Were it not that
the accommodation it affords is neither of the description nor extent which
modern tastes and fashions consider necessary for health and comfort, it might
still be inhabited by the owners. Many veteran trees of great age and size
surround and adorn the castle.

On 18th April, 1665, Gilbert Auchinleck of that ilk was retoured (No.414) in
the lands of Auchinleck, in the barony of the same, as heir of Gilbert
Auchinleck of that ilk, his father or grandfather. It is probable that the son
or grandson who succeeded in 1665 was the last of the name who owned the
property, and that he sold the lands; as, about the middle of the seventeenth
century the barony passed from the Auchinlecks to a family named Robert Reid,
but of their lineage or history little is known. Thomas Reid of Auchinleck in
1733 presented a silver communion cup to the Kirk Session of Dundee. A Thomas
Reid was one of the assessors of the Guildry, a few years prior to
that date, and as the donor of that cup must have had intimate connection with
Dundee, it is probable that the donor, the assessor, and the laird had been one
and the same person. The family had been keen Jacobites, as were many in Dundee
in 1715 and 1745. The head of the house took part in the rebellion of 1745, and
for his adherence to the Stuarts, what remained of the estate was forfeited in
1746. Mr. Reid escaped to France, and his wife and family subsequently joined
him there. About the beginning of last century one of the Reids sold part of the
barony to a person named Smith, of Camno, who called his purchase ‘Smithfield.’
His son John, second of Smithfield, married a daughter of William of Douglas,
who was ancestor of the family of Brigton, in Kinnettles, and Provost of Forfar.
He was a son of Dr. Robert Douglas, Bishop of Brechin. Mr. Smith's only child,
Catherine, married John Fife of Dron, and banker in Edinburgh. By the death of a
descendant of theirs, who was a merchant in Glasgow, the estate came to Major
David Fyffe of The Lodge, Broughty Ferry, and of Logie, Dundee, whose lady being
of the family of Brigton, was a descendant of the Bishop of Brechin, and
subsequently of Dunblane. The estate of Smithfield was acquired by the late John
Shiell, solicitor, Dundee, and it now belongs to his Trustees.

After the forfeiture of Reid, the castle and remaining lands of Auchinleck
were purchased by James Yeaman, one of the Bailies of Dundee. This family
continued to reside in the castle until the year 1760. About that period, or
shortly thereafter, Mr. Yeaman, or his son and successor, erected a fine manor
house a little to the south of the castle. It is replete with every modern
convenience, and is large and commodious. The two buildings, the old castle and
the modern mansion, contrast strangely with each other, but not more so than did
the manners, habits, and customs of the denizens of the old keep differ from the
tastes, the modes of life, and the practices of the occupants of such dwellings
at the present time. Nearly two centuries ago Ochterlony describes the castle as
"ane old high tower house, which is seen at a great distance at sea, and it
is used for a land mark by those that come in the river of Tay."

The estate, with the old castle and the new manor house, was sold by a
descendent of Bailie Yeaman to Graham of Kincaldrum, in Inverarity. They were
subsequently acquired by James Mitchell, railway contractor, Broughty Ferry, and
now belong to his Trustees.

The Auchinlecks of that ilk anciently possessed the lands of Balmanno, in the
parish of Marykirk. St. John's Well is there, and in old times there had
probably been a place of worship there.

There is good freestone on the (Affleck) estate, and it is probable that the castle had
been built with stone taken from a quarry on the estate. Several feus have been
given off and dwellings built upon them. A large seed crushing mill was recently
erected on a part of the estate, with a number of houses for the people employed
at the mill.

Some further details regarding Auchinleck will be found in the proprietory
account of Smithfield, afterwards given.

There is a tradition in the parish that Auchinleck was occupied in succession
by some twelve generations of the name of ‘Gilbert Auchinleck.’ The records
of the Kirk Session, which commence in 1615, are to some extent confirmatory of
this, a number of the name of Gilbert Auchinleck being entered for baptism, the
witnesses being invariably two of the three lairds of Kirkbuddo, Pitairlie, and
Guthrie.

The Castle of Auchinleck is mentioned by Monipennie in 1612 (p.170).

A great part of what was afterwards the thanedom, then the barony of Downie
belonged to the Celtic Earls of Angus. Duncan de Dunny, who was one of the
perambulators of the marches of Tulloes and Conan in 1254, may have held part of
the lands under the superiority of that family, and taken his surname from them.
The lands afterwards became the property of the Abernethys, the male line (if
which ended in Alexander de Abernethy. He left three co-heiresses, one of whom,
Mary, was married to Sir David Lindsay of Crawford, circa 1315-1320, and with
her he obtained the barony of Downie and other lands. Sir James Lindsay of
Crawford gifted Duny and other lands to the Abbey of Cupar.

In Memorials of Angus and Mearns, p.402, it is said that Sir James Lindsay of
Crawford gave the Convent of Cupar the lands of Little Pert, Duny, and Clair, in
Angus. In the Registrum de Cupar, Pref. xix., he is called Sir David Lindsay of
Crawford, and in the copy of the confirmation charter of the lands by King
Robert Bruce, dated at Dunkeld, 5th October, 1309, and attested at Dundee same
year, he is called Alexander of Lindsay. The Duny or Downie
given the Abbey by the Lindsays was in Glenisla, and not in the parish of
Monikie. The Lindsays had been proprietors of both ‘Downies.’ Not being sure
of the donor, we cannot give the date of gift. The Earl of Crawford gave an
annual of twelve merks from the lands of Dunfynd and Downycane, in the barony of
Downie, to the altar of our Lady at Dundee, to have mass celebrated for the
souls of his ancestors, and his own after his death. Charter confirmed at
Dundee, 10th December, 1406, by Regent Albany.

David II granted a charter of the Miln of Downy to John Masculo. In
Robertson's ‘Scotland under Her Early Kings’, it is said the appellation Masculus,
Le Male, attached to an ancient Angus family in early times, seems to
have been perpetuated with the old broad pronunciation under the form of Maule.
The John Mascu1o who received the charter of the Mill of Downie from David II
may therefore have been John Maule. The same King granted a charter to William,
Earl of Sutherland, and Margaret Bruce, sister to the King, of the barony of
Downy. The barony had then been vested in the Crown. This family did not retain
the barony long.

On 8th June, 137l-2, Robert II granted at Perth a charter to Sir Alexander de
Lyndesay of Glenesk, third son of Sir David Lindsay of Crawford, of the King's
lands of the thanage of Downy. By that charter he was entitled to the services
payable by the bondi or husbandmen. It also made him owner of the
nativi or serfs, and of their children in the thanage. This shows that serfs and
their children were the born slaves of the proprietors of the land in Scotland
five centuries ago, and might have been, and were, bought and sold as slaves were
in the United States until a comparatively recent period. (This is
the possible origin of many surnames - i.e. that of the master. - Ed.)

King Robert III granted to David, Earl of Crawford (between 1398-1405) a
charter of the barony of Downy, Achebetoun, and several other lands. Some time
after the date of that charter, the barony, which consisted of the lands of
Ardestie, Auchinleck, Balhungie, Carlungie, Denfind, Downieken, Ethiebeaton,
Monikie, Pitairlie, and others, both on the south and north of Downie hill,
became broken up into small sections, owned by various parties.

The Durhams of Grange, about the end of the fifteenth century, acquired the
lands of Ardestie and they retained them till after the middle of the 16th
century, if not longer. They acquired the lands of Denfind in 1514. On 27th
January, 1610, William Durham succeeded his father, William Durham of Grange, in
same - N.E. £16. David, 8th Earl of Crawford, had a charter of two
parts the dominical lands of Downie on 12th March, 1538-9. David, 11th Earl of
Crawford, and Griselda Stewart, his wife, had a charter of the barony on 11th
December, 1581. A branch of the Lindsays were proprietors of Monikie.
We give
below details of the proprietors who owned some of the lands.

The Lindsays of Balgavies were proprietors of Balhungy and Carlungie in the
16th century. On 18th February, 1606, David Lindsay of Balgavies was
retoured (No.49) heir to Sir Walter Lindsay, knight, his father, in Carlungie
and Balhungie. On 19th June, 1610, Thomas Fothringham of Powrie succeeded his
father Thomas (Ret. 71) in the third part of Balhungie and of the dominical
lands of Downie. On 26th June, 1618, William Fullarton of that ilk,
heir of Sir William, his father, succeeded (Ret. 103) in another third part of
same lands.

On 1st January, 1615, George Lindsay, second son of Sir Henry Lindsay of
Careston, was retoured (No.84) in the lands and barony of Downie, lands of
Ardestie, Balhungie, Downieken, Cotton, Brewland of Downie, Knighthill, and
Sandyhillock - A.E. £50, N.E. £200. On 6th July, 1622, Robert Erskine, heir of
his father, Robert of Ardaistie, was retoured (No.140) in the lands of Ardaistie;
lands of Muirdrum and Otingang, in the barony of Downie; part of outfield land
and brewery of Downikaine; four parts land called buttis of Downikaine, 4 acres
and 3 roods arable land, in said barony.

On 21st May, 1582, James Rollock, heir of George of Duncrub, his father, was
retoured in the corn mill of Cambiston, in the barony of Downie - N.E. 36 13s
4d; and in half lands of Chapeltown of Ba1gowie or Over Corstoun - N.E. 4 merks,
on 27th January. The barony of Downie subsequently came into possession of the
Maules of Panmure.

On 5th March, 1629, Patrick Maule of Panmure had a charter of the barony of
Downie. He was afterwards (on 2nd August, 1646) created Earl of Panmure.
On 1st
August, 1662, George, Earl of Panmure, was retoured (No.385) in the lands in the
barony of Downie, and many others, as heir of Earl Patrick, his father. On 16th
May, 1671, Earl George, as heir of his father Earl George, was retoured (No.
449) in the same lands; and on 27th April, 1686, Earl James succeeded to same
lands as heir of Earl George, his brother (No.501).

The barony of Downie was forfeited in 1716 in consequence of Earl James
taking part in the Rebellion of 1715, as was also all the Earl's other lands,
but they were subsequently repurchased by Earl William, as related below, and
since then they have continued in the Maules, and in their descendants and
representatives, the present proprietor being the Earl of Dalhousie. There are
still traces to be seen of the foundations of the old Castle of Downie on a
mound at Old Downie. The Castle of ‘Duniken’ was in existence when
Monipennie wrote in 1612.

In the Valuation Roll of 1683 the lands in this parish belonging to the
Panmure family are entered thus:- Earl of Panmure, £1140; Countess of ditto for
her liferent lands, £2085 = £3225. At a later period the whole lands were
called ‘Panmure’ and they were divided in 1767 thus:-

(Photograph of an old steading building at Kirkton of Monikie
Farm
in March 2000, one of the many mentioned in the account above.)

James, 4th Earl of Panmure, was forfeited in 1716 for taking part in the
Rebellion in 1715. Earl William repurchased the forfeited estates in Forfarshire
on 20th February, 1764, for £49,157 18s 4d. He died on 4th January, 1782, so
that the above division of the lands in Monikie took place during the lifetime
of Earl William in the peerage of Ireland. We do not know the object for
disponing these lands, but in terms of the entail by Earl William, they came to
his grandnephew, Hon. Wm. Ramsay, who assumed the surname of Maule, and is the
Hon. W. Maule above mentioned.

The lands of Ardestie formed part of the barony of Downie. The Lindsays
appear to have disposed of these lands to the Durhams of Grange of Monifieth in
the beginning of the 16th century. James Durham was designed of Ardestie in
1530, and they continued in possession for some time thereafter. In the early
part of the 17th century the lands were acquired by the Lords of Panmure.

The old chapel of Ardestie stood in the vicinity of the castle, and ‘Kane's
Well’ was near it, but no trace of the castle is now to he seen, and no well
of that name is now known about Ardestie by the tenant of the farm. The Earls of
Panmure resided at Ardestie for some time, and ‘James,’ the last Earl of
Panmure, was born there. Earl George married Lady Jane Campbell, eldest daughter
of the Earl of Loudon, and by her had three sons and a daughter. The two eldest
sons succeeded as third and fourth Earls of Panmure respectively, and the third
was Henry Maule of Kelly. The Earl left Countess Jane the use of all his
moveables during her widowhood, and appointed her tutorix of his children.
She
took up her residence at Ardestie and lived there.

Two of the carved stones of the old house or castle are built into the modern
farm house of Ardestie, erected in 1801. They bear U,
I.H.S. and a human heart pierced by a dagger or the end of a spear. The cross is
above the three letters. On another stone are C.I.C.P. : l688, for Countess Jane
Campbell of Panmure. On the south end of two cottages south from the farm
steading there is a stone in each, on one of which is M.A.R. ; on another D.L.A.,
1625, and some carvings.

The lands of Cambuston were included in the barony of Downie. The Maules of
Panmure were very desirous to obtain them from the Lindsays. Thomas Maule, whose
father fell at Harlaw in 1411, made a requisition to David, Master of Crawford,
to give in borch (surety or warranty) the lands of Kambyston. He made a second
requisition, and a third. To the last the Master answered that his father had
written to forbid him to give said lands in borch, and therefore he declined to
do so.

On 20th November 1481, an instrument was expede by Sir Thomas Maule on the
boundaries between his lands of Cambuston, and adjoining lands in the barony, of
Downie belonging to the Earl of Crawford, and of the moors of the baronies of
Downie and Panmure. The boundary is said to run by the stone cross of Cambuston.
Camiston was the only estate given to Alexander Maule, son of Sir Thomas, and he
is designed of Camiston in 1474. He died before his father, who died in 1498,
and his son, Sir Thomas succeeded. He fell at (the battle of) Flodden.
On 13th August, 1494
John, Master of Crawford, gave a charter of the lands of Cambuston and mill of
same to his cousin Thomas Maule. Of same date the Master of Crawford gave a
charter of the lands of Carlungy to Thomas Maule in warranty of the lands of
Camiston and the mill thereof, which had been sold by the Master to Thomas
Maule. They were subsequently reconveyed to the Master. On 30th September, 1526,
David, Earl of Crawford, gave a charter of Camiston and mill thereof to Robert
Maule and Isabella Merser, his wife. On 8th May, 1609, David, 12th Earl of
Crawford, gave a charter of the lands of Cambuston, in the barony of Downie, to
Patrick Maule.

The lands of Carlungie and Balhungie, part of Downie, belonged to Sir Walter
Lindsay of Balgavies, whose castle of Balgavies was burned down by order of
James VI. Sir Walter was slain by David, the "Wicked Master," in 1605.
He was succeeded by his son David, who died in 1615. Walter, his son, succeeded,
and he sold the lands.

On 28th June, 1608, David, Earl of Crawford, heir of his father, Earl David,
was retoured (No. 63) in half the barony of Downie, lands of Ardesty, Balhungy,
Downieken, Cotton, Brewlands of Downie, and many other lands. It appears from
his retour that the Balgavies family had owned half of the lands of Balhungie
only. Nearly a century and a half thereafter the lands of Carlungie and
Balhungie were acquired by the Maules from the Lindsays, and they have since
then been included in the Panmure estate.

The lands of Denfind were included in the barony of Downie, but, like other
portions of the barony, Denfind was for a long time a distinct estate, and had
its castle, the residence of the laird. The lands remain, but the tower or
castle disappeared long ago.

A little to the west of the farmhouse of Denfind, formerly Dunfind, there is
a deep ravine called ‘Denfiend,’ through which a rivulet runs. It is crossed
by a lofty bridge of one arch on the road from Dundee to Monikie. In Lindsay of
Pitscottie's History it is called the ‘Fiend’s den’, because a brigand
with his family dwelt in it. "He had an execrable fashion to all young men
and children that he could steal or obtain by other means, and take them home
and eat them. The younger they were he held them the more tender and delicate.
For these acts he was burned with his wife, bairns, and family, except a young
lass of one year old, who was saved and taken to Dundee, where she was brought
up; but when she came to woman's years, she was condemned and burned quick for
the same crime her father and mother were convicted of. A great crowd, chiefly
women, attended at the execution, cursing her for her crimes. To them she said,
‘Why chide ye me as if I had committed a crime. Give me credit, if ye had the
experience of eating human flesh yea would think it so delicious that you would
never forbear it again.' And so she died, without sign of repentance."

Sir John Lindsay of Brechin and Pitcairlie (Pitairlie) fourth son of David,
third Earl of Crawford, died in 1453. He was slain at the Battle of Brechin.
He
was ancestor of the House of Pitairlie. David Lindsay of Pitairlie was a witness
to charter of one third of Pitskelly to Robert Carnegie of Kinnaird, signed at
Dundee, 25th March, 1542. The same or another David, 1544 - 50. David Lindsay of
Pitairlie was minister of Abirlemna, Fynevin, Inneraritie, and Kirkbuddo in
1574, with a stipend of £133 6s 8d; John Lindsay of same, 1609-21-39.

The lands of Pitairlie remained in the Lindsays until some time after the
following retour, which we give at length, as it includes other details besides
the lands of Pitairlie and others. The lands mentioned in the retour formed part
of the ancient thanedom and barony of Downie. There was a castle at Pitairlie in
early times. The only remains of it is a stone built into the wall of the farm
offices bearing the initials and date, A.L. : I.C., 1631. Alexander Lindsay
mentioned above was laird at that date.

On 29th May, 1655, Alexander Lindsay of Pitairlie, heir of Alexander Lindsay
of Pitairlie, his father, was retoured in the lands of Pitarlie; part of the
Moor of Downie lying contiguous to said lands, within the barony of Downie - O.E
20s, N.E. £4, the lands of Guildy and part of the Moor of Downie O.E. 16s, N.E.
£3 4s; a tenement called the Earl’s Lodging within the burgh of Dundee, and
patronage of the chaplainrie founded within the foresaid lodging; the Craig
called St. Nicholas Craig, within the sea-flood of the said burgh of Dundee, and
fortalice; the advocation of the chaplainrie of All Saints, situate within the
parish kirk of Dundee - O.E. 3s 4d, N.E. 13s 4d ;an annual rent furth of the
late King’s great customs of the burgh of Dundee.

The lands of Pitairlie subsequently came into possession of the family of
Panmure, in which they stilt remain, the Earl of Dalhousie being the present
proprietor of Pitairlie, and all the other lands detailed above, which were
included in the barony of Downie.

The ruins of Hynd Castle stand on a round, green mound, near the north-west
point of this parish, close by the road from Dundee to Brechin, and a little to
the west of the Dundee and Forfar Direct Railway. The mound appears to be
artificial, and is not of much height. On the summit are a few trees surrounding
ruinous walls, perhaps ten feet in height, and about half as many feet in
thickness. The area they enclose is about twelve feet square, with a door on one
side, and a window on each of the other three sides. The remains of Dilty Moss,
one of the sources of the Kerbet, are at a short distance to the east of the
castle. History is silent about this ruin, and it is not known when, by whom, or
for what purpose it had been erected. It is too small to have been the residence
of one of the lairds, and none but they had castellated dwellings. The castle
was too near the great moss with the small ‘lake’ in its centre to have been
a pleasant abode for any family of note. It had at one time been surrounded by
water and a morass. The moss was exhausted and the ‘lake’ drained many years
ago, and part of the site is now cultivated land.

A little to the west of Hynd Castle, on the ridge which divides this parish
from Inverarity, there was a very large heap of stones, called Haercairns or
Hoar Cairn, which probably were raised over the bodies of the combatants slain
at a great battle fought there in very early times, but of the time, the parties
engaged, or the result we are ignorant. Many of the stones have been carted off.
Locally it is said to have been the burial place of all the suicides of the
district. The Gallows Hill is in the immediate vicinity, and the criminals
executed may have been buried there. Many human bones have been found under the
stones.

On the highest summit of Downie Hill, in the parish of Monikie, stands the
magnificent column called the ‘Live and Let Live’
Testimonial. It was
erected in the year 1839, at the sole expense of the numerous tenantry on the
vast estates of the Right Honourable William Ramsay Maule, first Lord Panmure,
"to perpetuate the memory of a nobleman, who through a long life made the
interests and comforts of his tenantry his sole and unwearied object."
The
Testimonial is a worthy memorial, fitted alike to express the gratitude and
liberality of the tenantry, and the worth and kindness of heart of the landlord
to whom it was erected. The Testimonial consists of a broad lower basement of
rustic work, in which are apartments for the reception of visitors and other
purposes; a quadrangular upper basement, the angles of which are flanked with
open buttresses; and a colossal cylindrical column, rising up into a balustrade,
and surmounted by a lofty ornamental vase. A stone pillar rises in the centre of
the cylinder, in the interior of which there is a lightning conductor, and with
a spiral staircase on its exterior. The height of the Testimonial from the
ground to the top is 105 feet. In a niche in the visitors' room are a marble
bust of the noble Lord by Sir John Steele, and an inscribed marble tablet
telling the story of the Testimonial. The design was by John Henderson,
Edinburgh. The site of the Testimonial was admirably chosen. The hill is 500
feet above the level of the sea, isolated from other high grounds, and
commanding an uninterrupted prospect of vast extent in every direction. From the
balustrade a large portion of seven counties can be seen, and from its position
it is one of the most conspicuous its landmarks on the east coast of Scotland.
The Testimonial is about a mile distant from Panmure
House, whence there is a
fine drive. Camus Cross stands within two or three hundred yards of the
Testimonial. The grounds around the Testimonial and Camus Cross are beautifully
laid out and finely kept, and a visit to the ancient and modern memorials is
instructive and pleasing.

The Douglas estate in this parish is of considerable value, though not of
large extent. It consists of the farms of Denside and Dodd, and of several
pendicles at Bankhead, in the western district of the parish, which abuts into
the parish of Murroes, and adjoins Carrot Hill. We have already given the
proprietary progress of others of the Douglas lands in the county, and need not
repeat it here. The present proprietor is the Earl of Home.

The lands of Newbigging were of old included in the barony of Downie. They
were acquired by George Dempster of Dunnichen in the first half of the 18th
century. They afterwards came into possession of David Millar of Ballumbie, who
disponed them to David Kerr in l821. Subsequently they came into possession of
his son, Thomas Kerr of Grange and Newbigging. He died in 1879, and left the
lands of Newbigging to Thomas Leburn Drimmie, son of the deceased Daniel Drimmie
of Panmurefield, who is the present proprietor of Newbigging. A part of the lands
has been given off in feus, upon which good houses have been erected. In the
Valuation Roll of 1683 the annual value of the property was £180, but it is how
considerably more than double that sum. There is a good mansion on the estate,
and there is also a neat United Presbyterian Church with manse and garden.

Henry Smith, second son of Henry Smith of Glasswall and Camno, was bred a
merchant in Dundee. He acquired part of the barony of Auchinleck or Affleck in
the later half of the seventeenth century. He gave his lands the name of
Smithfield. He married a daughter of Duncan of Strathmartine, by whom he had a
son and a daughter, and he died in 1726. John Smith, his son, succeeded, and
married Margaret, daughter of William Douglas, Provost of Forfar, son of Robert
Douglas, bishop of Dunblane, descended of the house of Glenbervie, and by her
had a son and two daughters. He died 1737.

Henry Smith of Smithfield succeeded on the death of his father. He was a
merchant in London, and married Emslia, daughter of Sir William Nairn of
Dunsinane, Bart., who died without issue. On 7th April, 1755, John Fyfe, younger
of Dron, obtained decree against Henry Smith of Smithfield, as heir of his
father, John Smith of Smithfield. Henry Smith married secondly, in 1768,
Christian, daughter of David Graham, advocate, by Elizabeth, his wife, daughter
of William Murray of Abercairny.

In the Valuation Roll of 1683 Auchinleck is entered at £666 13s 4d. Before
1748 it was divided into two portions, which in the Roll for 1822 are called
Affleck and Smithfield. The former was owned by James Fyffe, £533 6s 8d; and
the latter by James Yeaman, £133 16s 8d - together, £666 13s 4d. Thomas Read
was proprietor of Affleck before the Yeamans.

James Fyffe was succeeded in Smithfield by Major Fyffe, who resided for some
time at the Lodge in Broughty Ferry. The Major retained the estate until 1842.
Major David Fyffe, born 18th April, 1781, married 18th September, 1816, Helen,
fifth daughter of William Douglas of Brigton. He was a son of David Fyffe of
Drumgeith by his wife Ann, only daughter of David Hunter of Burnside. Major
Fyffe had a brother Charles, born 1785, and died 1804, and two sisters, Barbara,
died 1811, and Elizabeth Bell, married to Robert Kerr of Clatto, Roxburghshire.
Major Fyffe had a family of six sons and a daughter. Several of the sons died
young.

He was succeeded in the property by John Shiell, solicitor in Dundee. John
Shiell of Smithfield married Alexandrina Ursula Wilhelmina, daughter of George
Lewis Korn of Hanover, and by her had George Anthony Shiell, born 1842, and
other issue. Mr. Shiell of Smithfield was a J.P. for the county of Forfar.
He
died in 1875. His son, above mentioned, was called to the Bar at the Middle
Temple, and goes the Northern Circuit.

The estate of Smithfield is now in possession of David Small and others, the
Trustees of the late John Shiell.

When the first Statistical Account of the parish was written, about 1790, the
best land in the parish was let at from five to fifteen shillings the acre,
generally on leases of twice nineteen years and a lifetime, and the farmers, who
were industrious, were in opulent circumstances. Rents were then advancing, and
any farms falling in to the proprietor were readily bringing double the previous
rent. The breeding and fattening cattle occupied much of the attention of the
farmers in the southern section of the parish, where the farms were generally
enclosed. The report says wheat had long been cultivated in that section, but
for six or seven years it had been discontinued, several of the farmers having
met with considerable losses by blasting. In the year in which the report was
written they had begun to try it again.

About 1763 a new road from Dundee to Brechin, passing through the northern
part of the parish, was formed. Upon this road a strong bridge 55 feet high,
with a single arch over a precipice at Denfiend, or the Fiend’s Den, was built
in 1784. The origin of the name of the den already related.

About 1750 - 60 a farm, which in 1790 was worked by three ploughs, having
each four, and sometimes only two horses, employed five cattle ploughs, having
each ten oxen. Farms where two ploughs drawn by four horses do the work, at an
earlier period required three ploughs, each drawn by ten oxen.

About 1775 several stone coffins were discovered on the ridge of small hills
called the Cur hills, also some stone cists in which were urns containing ashes.
In that neighbourhood there were also found, upwards of six feet below the
surface, several oak, fir, and birch trees. To the south of the Cur Hills there
were found, among marl, about nine feet below the surface, several heads of deer
with horns of a considerable size.

Stone pillars and crosses are frequently mentioned in old Scottish charters
as boundaries. The Cross of Cambuston is so mentioned in a deed of agreement
between Sir Thomas Maule of Panmure and the Earl of Crawford, dated 25th
November, 1481. The line of march is said to run ‘a magna Cruce Lapidia
de Cambystoun’.

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